Brookfield selectmen agree to review options for Silvermine water line

By Nanci G. Hutson, staff writer

Published
1:38 am EDT, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

BROOKFIELD -- The Board of Selectmen asked its engineers to take a second look at the installation of the Silvermine Road water line to assure the pipe can be constructed without taking private property.

The owners of a 50-year-old Christmas tree farm, Raymond and Dorothy Waidelich, are adamant the town can find a better way to resolve the problem of the line installation on the thoroughfare without interfering with their property, or that of their neighbors on the other side of the road.

Selectmen Joni Park and Jerry Murphy voted in favor of finding an alternative option even though the engineering firm said it would likely more than double the cost and could cause some delay. First Selectman Robert Silvaggi abstained.

But Park was stirred by Waidelich's position that alternatives are available to avoid taking his land, and agreed those should be explored.

The proposal is to use a method called directional drilling to install a water line between 2 and 20 feet below ground surface, with a section to go along the edge of the Waidelich's property.

Though impact would be minimal, engineer Jim Ericson of Lenard Engineering Inc. in Storrs admitted some trees could be damaged during the construction process. The cost for this option is $47,000, the least expensive of all but one of the four options offered at Friday's meeting. The other similar cost proposal, though, had other drawbacks, including its proximity to a sewer pump station.

The option the Waidelich's favor would eliminate directional drilling, rather providing an insulated water main on the north parapet wall of the bridge over Route 7 that crosses over the railroad tracks. Ericson said this option has several drawbacks, and would require state Department of Transportation and state Department of Public Health permits. The cost is also likely to be about $150,000 or more, he said.

The town's $1.8 million water line project meant to mitigate drinking water problems for four local condominium complexes has a $180,000 contingency fund that could be used to help cover additional costs, Park said.

Construction crews are working on other areas of the water

line project, and could be reassigned while this option is

explored without causing any further delays, she said.

Park said she doesn't want to take any privately-owned land if it is not essential to do so.

Ericson said he will contact the state agencies this week, and begin reviewing the design for this option so it can be brought back to the selectmen as soon as possible.

Gracious, but unwavering, Waidelich said he will not agree to any proposal that requires crossing his property. He said it is not only for fear of losing some trees, or money.

"It's about doing what's right,'' Waidelich said, noting the option to install the line on the other side of the street so his neighbors bear the brunt was "an insult.''

He said he finds it unacceptable to allow the government to "trample'' on "personal property rights.''